Danny Ings scores yet again as Burnley beat QPR

Sean Dyche was delighted with the three points on Saturday

Danny Ings grabbed what proved to be the winner in a relegation six-pointer as Burnley beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Turf Moor, Alex Johnson reports...

It is hard to believe that, more than halfway through the Premier League season, there could be a side without a single point away from home, however there is one and it is Queens Park Rangers.

The west London club's dismal record on the road is the reason why they are amongst the favourites to return to the Championship next season, but they would have fancied their chances of breaking their duck at fellow strugglers Burnley.

Boss Harry Redknapp even turned to outcast Adel Taarabt to provide the inspiration in attack behind in-form Charlie Austin but it was to no avail.

Sean Dyche's side have a decent home record and, perhaps buoyed by Rangers' dismal one, they started quickly in wintry Lancashire.

Scott Arfield curled a cross into the area but both Ings and Ashley Barnes were flagged offside. However, it did not take long for the hard-working Burnley wideman to get his reward as he broke the deadlock in just the 12th minute.

There appeared to be little danger when Arfield collected the ball on the left flank but, as he jinked beyond two tame challenges and found himself in the box, he looked up before curling a shot around Steven Caulker and inside the far post with Robert Green rooted to the spot.

To their credit the setback appeared to galvanise the visitors and Burnley old boy Austin struck a post on 20 minutes after Mauricio Isla had produced a lovely cutback from the byline. Moments later Tom Heaton was scrambling helplessly across his goal as Leroy Fer's drive flashed narrowly wide.

Rangers were beginning to dominate the play so it was not particularly surprising when they got back on level terms just after the half-hour mark. A clever ball down the right channel by Taarabt found Austin running in behind and Dean Marney clipped his heels as he reached the penalty area. Referee Andre Marriner pointed to the penalty spot and up stepped Austin to slam beyond Heaton.

Parity would last just two minutes as the QPR defence fell apart at the seams after a hopeful ball over the top. The busy Ings chased down Caulker and, as the defender hesitated, he stole in to lift the ball away before darting into the box, nutmegging Richard Dunne and bobbling a left-footed shot inside the far post.

The Clarets led at the interval and never looked back, despite the visitors enjoying the lion's share of possession after the break. However, the Burnley defence is a well organised unit and they proved their worth, with Heaton required to make just a handful of comfortable saves from long-range efforts from the likes of Austin, Fer and debutant substitute Mauro Zarate.

At the other end it was all hands to the pump on the counter-attack. Ings continued to give the Rangers defence a harrowing time with his constant running in behind and he almost ended the game as a contest just after the hour as he latched on to another ball over the top and flashed a first-time volley just wide.

Corners and free-kicks were a regular problem for the visitors and twice Michael Keane could have made the points secure in the dying moments. Green did superbly to keep out his first header from point-blank range before a second chance was planted wide by the young defender.

The victory lifts Burnley out of the bottom three and dumps QPR right back into the mire as their dismal away record continues to hamper their survival chances.